Window Treatments That Can Help You Cut Down Your Energy Costs

Windows are the major source of heat gain or loss in your home. During the summers, the windows allow the heat from the sun to enter your home and heat it up. During the winters, the heat from inside escapes through the windows and make your home feel cooler. As a result, the cooling/heating systems have to work extra to maintain the desired temperatures. However, there are several ways of reducing heat transfer through the windows. This blog post lists down some effective window treatments that can help you bring your energy bills lower.

1.     Solar Window Screens

The most effective window treatment to bring your energy bills down is to install solar window screens. Solar window screens block most of the ultraviolet rays of the sun from entering through the windows. Your home doesn’t heat up as much as it normally would. With that being said, there is no extra load on your cooling system, which is reflected in the lower energy bills that you end up seeing in the month. Solar window screens may feel like a major upfront expense, but they’re extremely cost-efficient in the long run.

2.     Shades and Blinds

Shades and blinds are also great window additions that can help you cut down your energy costs. They reduce the heat gain and loss that occurs through the window and hence, reduce the energy that the cooling/ heating system utilizes to achieve the desired indoor temperatures. The best thing about shades and blinds is that you can have them made in any color – so you can choose a color that goes best with your home’s interior. For most effective results, you can install reflective blinds that can reduce the heat gain by as much as 45%.

3.     Drapes

Drapes can also help you regulate the temperature inside your home by a great deal. The level of efficiency depends on the drape fabric and color. The right choice of drapes can reduce the heat gain during the summers and heat loss during the winters. As we mentioned above, with the reduction in heat gain and heat loss in the summer and winter season, the load on the cooling/ heating system is significantly reduced. As a result, you get to enjoy lower energy costs!

4.     Awnings

Awnings not only enhance the exterior appeal of your house but also bring your energy costs down significantly. They can reduce the heat gain by as much as 65% if installed on south-facing windows, and up to 77% if installed on west-facing windows.

5.     Reflective Films

You can also install reflective films on your windows to reduce the heat gain through the windows. They’re mirror-like window treatments that serve as an efficient barrier to ultraviolet rays, thereby keeping your home cooler throughout the summer.

Summary

Window treatments are an effective way of keeping your energy bills well under control. Of all the window treatments, the most effective and promising is the solar window screens. Solar window screens provide an excellent reduction in heat gain and heat loss and offer the greatest lowering in the energy costs.